Hikers scare ‘secretive’ creature in China forest — and rediscover rare species
In a mountain forest of southeastern China, a “secretive” creature tucked itself under some dead leaves. Something nearby “disturbed” it, and it emerged from its hiding place.
Nearby scientists spotted the rare animal — and rediscovered a species.
A team of researchers hiked into the Wuyishan Mountains of Fujian Province in 2018 as part of a project to survey reptile diversity, according to a study published July 23 in the peer-reviewed Biodiversity Data Journal.
While walking around a “sunny hillside” one morning, researchers passed by a snake “hiding under the dead leaves” and scared it out, the study said. Intrigued, they caught the snake and, after taking a closer look, realized they’d rediscovered a poorly known species: Plagiopholis styani, or the Chinese mountain snake.
Chinese mountain snakes were first discovered in 1899 in Fujian Province but had “rarely” been seen there ever since, researchers said. In general, the species belongs to a “rarely studied” group of snakes that are widespread across Asia but “are not easily encountered due to their secretive habits.”
A photo shows the Chinese mountain snake found in Fujian in 2018. It measured about 16 inches and had a “short” body and tail, the study said. Overall, it was “greyish-brown with some small black spots.”
Researchers saw the snake crawling “out from under the dead leaves” and described it as “slow and easy to catch.”
“Previously, Plagiopholis styani was considered to be widely distributed in southern China,” but a DNA analysis of the newfound specimen suggested it “may only be distributed in Fujian and neighbouring” provinces, the study said. Some of the snakes previously thought to be Chinese mountain snakes likely “represents an undescribed species.”
The Chinese mountain snake was identified by its coloring, scale pattern and other subtle physical features, the study said.
The research team included Shuo Liu, Zengyang Luo, Xi Xiao, Caichun Peng, Dongru Zhang and Shize Li.
This story was originally published July 23, 2025 at 12:35 PM with the headline "Hikers scare ‘secretive’ creature in China forest — and rediscover rare species."
